First things first: I am glad that the owner is OK.
Hopefully the owner kept all of the ammunition (and the packaging, if possible). That can all be sent in to Federal and they’ll investigate the issue. If it’s ammo-related, they’ll make it right and replace the rifle.
They don’t. They are FN guns*, and parts from other makers** with PSA markings.
As fas as I know. Their barrels have FN markings, and I think their bolts do too, but I haven’t seen a PSA/FN bolt in person, yet. My source for that is a friend who called PSA himself and asked about it while I was in the room**.
***He was actually in the back of my car.
**
No question it was ammo related.
I’m not sure why some are suggesting that PSA should be contacted. Not their problem by any stretch… just sayin’.
No one is “suggesting that PSA should be contacted”.
The owner said he would contact PSA and Federal which is HIS prerogative.
Looks like all the force was fed back into the upper receiver. The bolt still looks locked into the barrel extension. Any views of the fired case? Not saying this is the prob, but it looks like the same effect I’ve seen where a pistol was over charged with some really fast powder and grenaded.
Can’t tell from the pics. Any damage to the lower?
Curious about this myself…from the amount of back pressure there almost had to be a squib blockage or something similar
Blockage of some sorts, My best bet… Did the round cycle or remain in chamber? Blockage/explosion from front of shell push shell out. blockage/explosion from rear of shell would leave shell still in chamber. Well thats my thought process at least.
I’m glad to hear everyone is ok. Damn that is scary! I really want to know what happened, as I have a PSA and a ton of Fed xm193! If lot numbers become available please give them out as soon as possible, as I consider this a potentially deadly situation. I really mean it, thank God that the owner is ok! I have never had or seen a kaboom in person and would really never like to either for that matter. Please keep us all updated!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWygoxV_ApM This kinda reminded me of vid… Did the operator use the foward assist proir to KaBoom? I wanna say remember hearing about excessive or hard FA use somehow jamming the bullet in chamber in such fasion that blows back or something like that. I dunno…**EDIT: OP said was 6th in string of fire of mag.
Yep thats a nasty one! Glad the shooter is alright. Looks to be classic over pressure /casehead seperation. All the force directed to the rear!
Barrel blocked usually ruptures/bulges the barrel. Was there any barrel bulging?
It is called set back, the bullet is pressed back into the case during the loading cycle. It happens every time you cycle a round. However, due either to (or all of the above) harsh loading cycle, excessive amounts of loading or unloading a round or inadequate crimp the amount of bullet set back may become dangerous. It can increase pressures in the weapon to 200%+ normal loads.
And you would be wrong! GunnutAF hit the nail on the head.
Cool story bro.
If you bothered reading my post and the post I quoted/was replying to, I was telling lunchbox what the phenomenon he was describing is - not debunking GunnutAF’s explanation.
Definitely. Winston’s are unharmed, thank God. 
Glad shooter is OK, definitely would appreciate an update as they are available.
So thankful no one got hurt.
Every time I see one of these makes me glad I not shoot bullpup rifles.
True statement. If something that catastrophic happened with a Bullpup design I couldnt imagine the damage the shooter would have taken. Glad no one was hurt.
G34
Your vid show a bullet getting stuck in the barrel! The round that the shooter tried to fire just before mag change lodged the bullet in the barrel. He reloaded mag and preceeded to forced a round into the chamber far enough to fire, alass KB!
I’ve always wondered on this. I mean what happens if your rifle KaBooms in your hands, are you SOL or is the ammo manufactuer responsible for it? (assuming ammo related malfunction) I doubt the Firearm manufactuer will do anything.
If they dont take care of it, that is an expensive loss to take.
I have no further info at this time. I can say we did put a brass rod down the barrel that reached the chamber without restriction. There was no attempt to further disassemble the rifle at the range than what is seen in the pics. I will try to contact the owner later in the week for an update.